The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of the renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), focusing on improved welfare for academic staff. Effective January 1, 2026, the government has approved a 40% increase in the Consolidated Academic Allowance. This move is intended to foster industrial peace and boost morale across public universities.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed that several federal institutions have already reflected these increases in their payrolls. In addition to the general allowance hike, the new structure introduces specific annual payments for senior academics, with Professors set to receive ₦1.74 million and Readers receiving ₦840,000 annually.

Beyond direct remuneration, the agreement includes a Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance to support research and teaching. The government emphasized that these funds were captured in the 2026 budget to ensure sustainability. This implementation marks the conclusion of a negotiation process that began in 2017, aimed at modernizing the 2009 agreement and addressing the "brain drain" affecting Nigerian tertiary education.